Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘Beverly’

ABSTRACT

A variety of the Cactaceae family produced by a controlled cross named ‘Bevely’. ‘Beverly’ has a strong growth habit, a “red” colored bloom, a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning, erect stems, and blooming flowers that last for two weeks on the plant.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Rhipsalidopsis hybrid.

Varietal denomination: The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘Beverly’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Cactaceae family. The new variety is a Rhipsalidopsis hybrid named ‘Beverly’ by the inventor. The inventor is Louis Paduch, a citizen of the United States.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety was produced by the inventor through a controlled hybridization process from commercial varieties. The parent plants have not been patented or otherwise formally identified.

The overall red appearance of the flower is due to the generally even-toned color of its tepals.

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations.

The new variety possesses the desirable characteristics of: a strong growth habit with erect stems; a “red” colored bloom—RHS 46B (red group); relatively large flowers; and a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning.

Blooming flowers on the plant can last as long as two weeks at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperatures slow down the rate at which buds mature into flowers. Strong light is also necessary for bud development.

TABLE 1 U.S. Plant Pat. No. U.S. Plant U.S. 26,473 Rhip- Pat. No. Plant Pat. salidopsis 14,423 Rhip- No. 21,717 New plant named salidopsis Rhipsalidopsis Variety ‘PKMRHIP- Plant named Plant named ‘Beverly’ S09’ ‘Lauren' ‘7371E’ Plant 8″ to 9″ 13 to 15 cm 12 cm 16 cm height Phyllo- 40-60 mm 25-35 mm 20-55 mm 3-4 cm long, 2- clades long, 13-30 long, up to 24 long, up to 3 cm wide, mm wide, mm wide, 19 mm wide, color RHS color RHS color RHS color RHS 147A (yellow 137A (green 146A (yellow- 137C. group). group). green group). Flower Diameter: Diameter: up Diameter: Diameter: 3-4 5.5 cm. to 7 cm. 31-38 mm. cm. Length: Length: 4 cm, 4-5 cm , including including ovary. ovary Telaps Up to 4 cm Up to 35 mm 19-25 mm 2.8-3.0 cm long, color long, up to 7 long, color long, 6-8 mm RHS 46 B mm wide, RHS 69 A wide, color (red group) color RHS 34 (red-purple RHS 31 B A (orange- group) (orange-red red group) group) Filament RHS 74 B RHS N155C- “darker RHS N155D Color (red-purple N155D than group) perianth”

The new variety has asexually reproduced by the inventor and under the direction of the inventor at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The new variety has been asexually reproduced through successive generations by cuttings, and it has been found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, to illustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

FIG. 3 is color photograph of a several flowers of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of the top of a flowering stem of the new variety.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of the base of several plants of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of one individual plant grown for commercial sale removed from its soil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The plants observed were grown in 6″ pots. The observed plants are ready for commercial sale.

The plants observed had been pruned back once. There were typically 6 or 7 cuttings placed in each pot. Some cuttings had five levels of phylloclades, including the basal phylloclade that was inserted in the dirt, with buds at the top of the highest phylloclades. Most other plants had 4 levels of phylloclades with buds growing on the highest phylloclades.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants.

The plants were started in green houses at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months.

The plants started as cuttings taken as entire phylloclades. Cuttings were dried in flats for four weeks to harden. 6 to 7 cuttings were then placed in the same pot. The cuttings were kept under glass while they were rooting. At night, the plants were kept at an average temperature of approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the day, the plants were allowed to get as hot as 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cuttings generally take a month to begin producing roots and then another month to fully root.

When the plants were between five and eight months old, when the new variety had produced three new levels of phylloclades, the top phylloclades were topped or broken from the stems by twisting.

Then, when plants were at an appropriate height for commercial sale, the plants were moved outside to be exposed to colder temperatures for at least two months. Under the conditions in Half Moon Bay, the exposure to colder temperatures initiates bud formation without having to keep them under glass where day length can be shortened.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

-   Varietal name: ‘Beverly’. -   Classification: Family—Cactaceae. -   Genus and species: Rhipsalidopsis hybrid. -   Parentage: Un-named individuals that are also Rhipsalidposis     hybrids. -   Form: Terrestrial, shade-loving, succulent, leafless plant with     jointed and branched stems. -   Stems:     -   -   General.—Irregular stems of multi-branching upright,             adventitiously rootable, flattened phylloclades. Plants             observed had stems that generally consisted of 4 levels of             phylloclades, and sometimes 5. There stems branch at             multiple levels, usually with 1 to three branches growing             out of the apex of the phylloclade. The flattened             phylloclades have a fairly prominent midrib (especially in             phylloclades at the base of mature plants) and weakly             toothed lateral wings. The observed plants were 8″ to 9″             high. -   Phylloclades:     -   -   General.—Mature phylloclades are generally oblong,             elongated, and flattened with wings, and have a transversely             elongated, areole bearing, truncated apex. From the             transversely elongated apex, the wing margins generally run             straight or taper slightly to the basal portions (or             occasionally they flare outwardly somewhat), where they then             taper and merge through a pointed, basal juncture with the             phylloclade therebelow. The margins of the wings are also             weakly toothed or weakly crenate and an axillary areole is             associated with each blunt tooth. Immature phylloclades are             often not flattened, but four-angled, having multiple ribs             terminating at axillary areoles. The apex of the phylloclade             is transversely elongated, and areole bearing with compound             areoles. The lateral margins typically have 4 to 5             alternately spaced axillary areoles.         -   Midrib.—A somewhat prominent midrib extends longitudinally             of the phylloclade and continuously through the joints.         -   Texture.—Phylloclades have a smooth, waxy epidermis. Wax in             basal phylloclades and phylloclades inserted in the ground             becoming thick, corky and translucent with age. First             phylloclade above basal phylloclade will often have thick             corky wax at its base and along up its midrib part way.         -   Size.—Phylloclades are usually between 40 mm and 60 mm long,             with some as short as 20 mm. Phylloclades bearing flowers             can be as short as 32 mm long. Phylloclades are generally 4             mm thick at the midrib, and tapering to 1 mm thick at the             margins. Phylloclades are generally 13 to 30 mm at their             widest point. -   Color: Mature phylloclades are RHS 137A while immature phylloclades     are a brighter green: RHS 152C. Some phylloclades can have dark     margins, with the midrib and base of the phylloclade being lighter.     -   -   Areoles.—Terminal areole — Large, compound, elongated,             oval-shaped with several acicular bristles, copious             multi-cellular hairs, and several buds that may mature into             either new phylloclades or flowers. The opposite ends of the             areole are located adjacent to subsidiary areoles which are             in turn located at the axils of the uppermost blunt teeth             located at the distal end of the of phylloclade. The             acicular bristles are mostly upright (some bent) bristles in             clumps which can be as long as 5 mm and as short as 2 mm.             Lateral margins of phylloclade at terminal areole exposed to             sun can be very red. Axiallary areoles — Typically there are             4 axial areoles on one side of the phylloclade and five on             the other, with the areoles alternating. Typically these             areoles have 3 to 4 acicular bristles without glochidia,             especially in the upper areoles. Uppermost axiallary areoles             also have short hair. Bristles of the axiallary areoles are             often shorter than the bristles of areole at the apex of the             phylloclade. Blunt teeth are also found with the axiallary             areoles. -   Buds:     -   -   General.—Unarmored and ovid. Color of tepals of buds are             generally RHS 46 A (red group). From 1 to 6 flower buds can             form on the elongated terminal areole of the uppermost             phylloclades. Most of the buds on the uppermost phylloclades             will fall of the plant before the flowers bloom; however,             when the plant is in full bloom it is common for the             uppermost phylloclade to have 2 or more buds of different             sizes and age, often with 2 being of similar age and opening             simultaneously. Some buds growing in the first axiallary             areole. Some buds will also form on the second highest             phylloclade of a branch, sometimes as many as three, but             more typically 1 or 2. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—Sessile, actinomorphic, terminal, perfect and             epigynous with tepals (undifferentiated whorled sepals and             petals) having a spiral emergence as a perianth. Perianth,             androecium and gynoecium separate easily from ovary when             pulled from the ovary, but if undisturbed will wither             attached to the ovary.         -   Perianth.—General: Free, whorled tepals inserted on top of             the ovary. Tepals become more reflexed as the flower ages.             When the flower is mature there are often 5 very small             sepals whose color ranges from RHS 46 A (red group) to RHS             175 B (greyed-orange group). As many as 20 tepals on a             flower. Shape: Lanceolate with entire margins and very acute             tips. Texture: Glabrous. Size: Largest tepals of mature             flower is 4 cm. Fully opened flower generally has a diameter             of 5.5 cm. Color: Tepals are thin. Tepals are uniformly dark             above base on both sides. Overall color appearance of tepals             is RHS 46 B (red group). Some tepals are become RHS 54 B             (red group).         -   Androecium (stamens).—General: Numerous stamens (often more             than 70) with outermost stamens having filaments basally             fused to the perianth. Filaments are basally attached to the             anther. Stamens are inserted with respect to the sepals, but             become exserted as the tepals become reflexed. Color:             Filaments are mostly RHS 74B. Pollen color: RHS 21A.             Texture: Filament is glabrous. Size: Stamen filaments s are             approximately 10 to 20 mm long, and the anthers are             approximately 1 mm long.         -   Gynoecium (pistil).—General: Compound ovary with parietal             placentation (generally 5 carpels), having a united style,             that is of equal length as stamens, and inserted in tepals,             but becoming exserted as tepals become reflexed. Style: RHS             158C (yellow-white group) at base with RHS 73C (red-purple             group) portions. Length: 16 mm. Texture: glabrous. Stigma:             Erect and become reflexed as it ages with usually 6 lobes             (but there can be as many as 8 lobes) Color: RHS 158 C             (yellow-white group) on the abaxial side.         -   Ovary.—General — Compound ovary with a single cavity and             parietal placentation and generally 5 carpels, with numerous             ovules. The ovary is inferior and obovate to terete with             five angles and generally broadening from insertion to             floral end. Generally, mature ovaries have a diameter of             about 7 mm. Color — RHS 147 B (yellow-green group). -   Bloom life: Two to three weeks when forced. -   Fruit: General: ovaries wither and fall from phylloclades with     flower. 

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct hybrid plant of the Cactaceae family substantially as herein shown and described. 